During the weekend of 13 to 15 March, the Pro League is organising the first edition of “the Football for the Future”campaign. Together with its clubs, it aims to demonstrate that Belgian professional football is taking concrete steps towards a more sustainable future. RSC Anderlecht is proud to take part in this initiative and highlights several of its commitments in the fields of ecology and sustainability.
Sustainable management in and around Lotto Park
Around the Lotto Park, RSCA is implementing a sustainable and socially responsible approach to green maintenance. The club has established a partnership with a local social enterprise responsible for maintaining the green areas in and around the stadium.
In addition, RSCA has developed a structural partnership with a local horticultural school. Students are given the opportunity to complement their studies with practical experience through internships at the club. Three students are currently completing a practical internship as part of their specialisation.
As part of this collaboration, the students also designed the planting areas around the stadium. They later brought their plans to life by planting flowers, plants and trees on site. The green areas are maintained entirely through organic methods and in line with Brussels environmental regulations. The machinery used for maintenance has also been largely electrified.
Investing in renewable energy
In recent years, RSCA has made significant investments in renewable energy. Since 2020, all club buildings have been equipped with solar panels: nearly 3,000 on the roof of the Lotto Park stands, almost 600 on the academy’s indoor hall and close to 150 on the training centre.
Together, these installations represent a capacity of approximately 1.2 MWp, generating nearly 1 million kWh of green electricity per year. In addition, a solar boiler has been installed at the training complex to produce hot water for the showers. The electricity consumed by the club is also entirely sourced from green energy.
Sustainable solutions for supporters
RSCA also aims to reduce its environmental impact on matchdays. The stadium has therefore switched to reusable cups equipped with an integrated RFID chip. Thanks to this system, the deposit is automatically refunded when supporters return their cups, significantly reducing waiting times.
Supporters may also choose to donate their deposit to Tous Mauve, the club’s inclusion programme.
More than ten drinking fountains have also been installed in the stadium and at the training complex, significantly reducing the use of plastic water bottles.
More efficient infrastructure
RSCA is also making progress in terms of infrastructure. The Lotto Park is now equipped with a modern LED lighting system, which consumes more than 30% less energy during matches compared to traditional lighting while offering a higher light output. The brightness can also be adjusted flexibly depending on the circumstances.
Recent renovations of the stadium’s sanitary facilities also included the installation of water-saving urinals.
Electric mobility
Finally, RSCA is investing in sustainable mobility. The club now operates a fully electric company fleet, supported by 44 charging points installed at the training complex.
Through these initiatives, RSCA aims to contribute to the broader ambition of Belgian professional football to progressively evolve towards more sustainable operations. “The Football for the Future” weekend highlights that commitment: a shared effort by clubs, players and supporters to take responsibility for the future beyond the pitch.